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Cheddar Bacon Ranch Tortellini Salad

This Cheddar Bacon Ranch Tortellini Salad is packed with smoky bacon, thinly sliced green onion and sharp cheddar cheese all dressed in a buttermilk Ranch dressing. It’s perfect for holiday occasions, picnics, barbecues or potluck parties. It’s designed to be a hit no matter when it’s served.

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Tortellini Salad

Easy Cheddar Bacon Ranch Tortellini Salad Recipe

My family seems to be rather obsessed with the combination of cheese, bacon and ranch dressing. It seems no matter how it’s incorporated into a dish be it with or without chicken, they go gaga over it. I admit, I kinda sorta like it, too. My Chicken Bacon Ranch Pull Apart Rolls and Chicken Bacon Ranch Layer Salad both went absolutely viral on Pinterest, and for good reason. They’re simple to make and packed with homestyle flavors that always satisfy. How to make Cheddar Bacon Ranch Tortellini Salad: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

  • Tortellini – Cook the tortellini in salted water per the package instructions. Drain well and set aside to cool slightly.
  • Dressing – Whisk together the mayonnaise, buttermilk, sour cream, ranch dressing mix, garlic power, onion powder, lemon pepper and dill. 
  • Combine – Toss cooked tortellini with dressing. Mix well.
  • Mix-ins – Add cheese, bacon, and green onion to the bowl. Mix until evenly coated. Add chicken, if using.
  • You can enjoy this salad warm or place into the fridge to chill for several hours before serving.
Cooked tortellini and ingredients needed to make Cheddar Bacon Ranch Tortellini Salad

How to Make the Best Cheddar Bacon Ranch Tortellini Salad Recipe

Pasta salads are so easy and fun to make and versatile to boot. You can serve them alongside a plethora of entrees, or add chicken and enjoy them all on their own as a light meal on a sultry summer day. Using tortellini in a chilled salad makes it possible to enjoy it as a light main dish meal as well as a tasty side dish expanding its usability.

  • Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Cheddar Bacon Ranch Tortellini Salad: Refrigerated or frozen cheese tortellini, mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, dry Ranch Salad dressing mix, (i.e. Hidden Valley) garlic powder, onion powder, lemon pepper, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, cooked and crumbled bacon and green onions.
  • Kitchen gadgets you’ll need: A pasta pot or large pot to cook the tortellini, a skillet to cook the bacon, mixing bowl, whisk, cheese grater, measuring cups and spoons, sharp knife and chopping board.
  • You can transform this tortellini salad into a main dish with the addition of 2 cups of chopped rotisserie chicken.
  • You can adapt this recipe using a different flavor of shredded cheese such as colby jack or pepper jack, if that’s your preference.
  • You could use turkey bacon in place or classic bacon.
  • You can use lighter cheese and mayonnaise in this recipe, if desired.
  • When cooking the tortellini, follow the package instructions adapting depending on if they’re refrigerated or frozen. I typically use whichever is on sale for making this tortellini salad as both will turn out delicious.
  • Store leftover Cheddar Bacon Ranch Tortellini Salad well chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Cheddar Bacon Ranch Tortellini Salad

More Easy Cheese Tortellini Dishes and Pasta Recipes to Make

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Tortellini Salad

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Tortellini Salad

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Cooling Time3 hours
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: cheddar-bacon-ranch-tortellini-salad, cheese-tortellini-recipes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 512kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 20 oz refrigerated or frozen cheese tortellini
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk or milk
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 0.4 oz package dry buttermilk ranch salad dressing mix i.e. Hidden Valley
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp lemon pepper
  • 1/2 tsp dried dill
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 lb bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 1 bunch green onion thinly sliced
  • 2 cups roughly chopped rotisserie chicken (Optional see Cook's note)

Instructions

  • Cook the tortellini in salted water per the package instructions. Drain well and set aside to cool slightly.
  • Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, buttermilk, sour cream, ranch dressing mix, garlic power, onion powder, lemon pepper and dill. 
  • Toss cooked tortellini with dressing. Mix well. Add cheese, bacon, and green onion to the bowl. Mix until evenly coated. (May reserve some of each to garnish, if desired) Add chicken, if using.
  • Serve immediately warm or place into the fridge to chill for several hours before serving. Garnish as desired.

Notes

This scrumptious salad can be made with or without 2 cups of roughly chopped rotisserie chicken.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 512kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 595mg | Potassium: 189mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 433IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 237mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @melissassk or tag #melissassk!

 

8 Comments

  1. Hi there!

    Does this salad keep well in the fridge? If I were to make it for my weekly meal prep would it do okay do you think?

  2. I have a question on this recipe. I have a hard time handling dairy productsso I would not be able to use milk in this, would coconut milk yield the same results?

    1. Hi Danielle, the purpose of the milk is to thin the dressing. If you’ve had good results with a product you can tolerate then by all means, give it a whirl.

  3. 5 stars
    I make a recipe that’s very similar. Absolutely delicious! It’s in my normal rotation. I swap out the cheddar with chunks of pepper jack cheese, add some cubed ham and splash a bit of hot sauce in the sauce.

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